When the idea arose for Stefanie Caccamo to be a part of ‘Christmas Actually’, she said it was an easy decision to make.
“I was working on ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ back in 2018 with Naomi Price, and she mentioned she was writing this Christmas show with her writing partner Adam Brunes, and it just sounded amazing,” she said.
“‘Love Actually’ is one of my favourite Christmas movies, and to do the music from it – the music’s iconic! It was a no-brainer, working with my friends, and then singing some of the best music from my fave Christmas movie.”
‘Christmas Actually’ sees the world’s most beloved movie soundtrack come to life on stage, complete with an all-star cast, endless fun, and more than a few nativity lobsters.
Stefanie performed in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons of the show. Though she hasn’t been able to join the cast for the past two years due to COVID, she remembers her last shows like it was yesterday.
“It went off, I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
“I was surprised but not surprised, because it’s one of those Christmas films that most people put on every single year because it’s got amazing actors in it, and we can all really relate to all of the different storylines.”
It’s for this reason that she couldn’t be more excited to return to the stage alongside Mat Verevis, Joshua Robson, and Libby O’Donovan at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre later this month.
“It’s honestly one of my favourite shows to perform in, because the music’s great, I love the film, and it’s just fun performing with your friends, and performing for people who are just there to have such a great time,” she said.
“It’s super relaxed and fun, there’s not a lot of pressure, so I’m over the moon to be doing it again.”
Something Stefanie has learned along the way is that the “crazy, fun, ridiculous show” she’s performing in has meaning beyond the obvious, with everyone in every audience finding a storyline to connect to.
“I think people were surprised, because it’s a lot of fun, and the music’s great, but towards the end of the show, it’s actually really beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking,” she said.
“A lot of us are away from our families sometimes at Christmas, we live in different places, and there’s this really beautiful moment in the show where we do that part in the film where it’s the cards and Keira Knightly’s reading, and I remember people finding it quite hard-hitting and emotional.”
With all the best and worst elements of Christmas wrapped up in one show, Stefanie said ‘Christmas Actually’ is the best possible way to enter the silly season.
‘Christmas Actually’ will be on at Riverside Theatre in Parramatta on Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25 at 7.30pm. Tickets start at $51. For more information, visit riversideparramatta.com.au or call (02) 8839 3399.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.